How to Take Advantage of the Battery Rebate (Before It's Too Late!)

If your site already has solar, a battery is probably the next logical step. And right now, the numbers are as strong as they have ever been – but not for long…

Over the past two years, commercial battery prices have fallen by roughly 20 to 30 percent on average. At the same time, the rebate offered under the Cheaper Home Battery Program has delivered significant savings - up to an additional 30 percent - for homeowners and businesses alike.

It’s been a gold rush era for batteries, with around 185,000 installed in under nine months.

From May 1, however, the party is over for larger battery buyers when the program settings change and the incentive drops to just 15 percent of its current value.

You don't want to miss the boat on this one - and we've got the perfect offer to help you beat the buzzer.

Here's how the new 'tiered' rebate will work

How this impacts pricing for organisations

Most commercial organisations require a battery at the upper limit of the CHBP rebate scheme. A popular size for businesses leveraging this incentive is 48kWh.

• Installed before May 1 2026: $22,000 (or $19,900 with our current Sigenergy promotion)

• Installed after May 1 2026: about $29,000 after reduced rebate

• Installed in May 2027: about $30,000+ as the rebate continues to step down

That’s around a $10,000 difference for the same system, purely based on timing.

To access the battery rebate, your site must already have solar or have solar installed at the same time as the battery. The good news is that solar pricing is also now at historic lows: for e.g., in Victoria a 100kW commercial solar system can be installed for as little as $75,000 after rebates.

Here's a handy before and after price guide for each tier.

How long have I got to act?

The new program settings will come into play from May 1, 2026.

This means that current rebate values apply only until 30 April 2026 - your battery needs to be installed, electrified and your rebate application processed by this date to be eligible.

From May onwards, it's worth noting that the rebate amount will continue to decline faster and more frequently, with a drop in value every 6 months (instead of annually, like solar rebates).

Here's a timeline to help you plan your project:

Why is the program changing, anyway?

Since launching, the Cheaper Home Batteries Program has been taken up far faster than originally anticipated. Demand has been particularly strong for larger battery systems, including systems around 20-50kWh, which draw down a disproportionate share of available funding.

This was not anticipated by the government, who designed the program initially with homeowners primarily in mind.

Early uptake data and industry analysis indicated that, under the original structure, the initial $2.3 billion allocation was on track to be fully committed well before schedule. Without intervention, this would have forced the scheme to close early.

To prevent that outcome, the Federal Government has restructured the program and confirmed that future rebate settings will be weighted toward smaller battery systems, with reduced effective support for larger batteries suitable for commercial use.

Bottom line

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program has not been cancelled. It has been expanded in terms of funding but modified to encourage more homeowner uptake.

Total funding now sits at approximately $7.2 billion, however current rebate values for commercial-scale batteries are locked in only until 30 April 2026.

For businesses where the rebate is required for project viability, acting before this date is essential.

With contract and installation lead times of several weeks required, proposals for BESS systems should be approved realistically no later than mid-March to allow sufficient time.

TLDR? These FAQs Will Help

Is the rebate available for commercial batteries?

Yes. The rebate applies to commercial battery installations, including systems of 50kWh and above.

How long do current rebate values apply?

Current rebate values apply until 30 April 2026.

What happens after that date?

From 1 May 2026, revised rebate calculations will apply, reducing the effective rebate available to larger battery systems. The battery rebate will continue to decrease in value every 6 months from this point.

Should commercial projects proceed before then?

If current rebate values are required to support the business case, projects should be installed and commissioned before 30 April 2026.